Which term is defined as a comparison using "like" or "as"?

The correct answer is the term that specifically refers to a comparison between two different things using the words "like" or "as." This method of comparison makes it clear that it is illustrating similarities between two items while maintaining their distinct identities. For example, saying "as brave as a lion" or "like a rose in bloom" clearly shows the relationship by highlighting shared characteristics without conflating the two.

In contrast, a metaphor creates a direct comparison without using "like" or "as," suggesting that one thing is another (e.g., "Time is a thief"). An idiom is a phrase where the meanings are not derived from the literal meanings of the individual words (e.g., "kick the bucket" meaning to die). Personification involves giving human traits to non-human entities, like saying "the wind whispered through the trees." Thus, the definition aligns precisely with the comparison of similarity established by "like" or "as" in a simile.